Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft publishes Interim Report for Q3/2021: Significant profit growth – indicating successful profitability strategy

Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft, which is listed on the regulated market (General Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE0005201602) today published its Interim Report for the third quarter of the 2021 financial year. According to the report, the consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (consolidated EBIT) increased to EUR 5.1 million in the first nine months of the 2021 financial year – up significantly by 43.8% compared with the equivalent period in the previous year (Q3 2020: EUR 3.6 million). The consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (consolidated EBITDA) came to EUR 11.9 million (Q3 2020: EUR 10.2 million). Consolidated revenues amounted to EUR 105.8 million, down by 6.3% compared with the previous year (Q3 2020: EUR 112.9 million). However, if adjusted to take into account the effect – already mentioned multiple times – of the termination of a high-revenue yet low-yield contract bottling agreement in the Non-alcoholic Beverages segment, the decline in consolidated revenues would only amount to 0.3%.

“Despite a decline in consolidated revenues owing to the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the termination of a contract bottling agreement, we kept the consolidated gross profit stable at the previous-year level, which resulted in a significant increase in the consolidated EBIT and consolidated EBITDA”, says Oliver Schwegmann, member of the Executive Board of Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft. “Our profitability strategy has proved successful – even in these financially challenging times.”

This is also evidenced by the positive development of the corporate group’s high-margin products, he says, pointing out the impressive revenue growth observed, for example, in both the newer premium brands Tres Países and Goldkehlchen and the higher-value private-label spirits. “As for our non-alcoholic beverages, revenues from our Mio Mio brand increased by around 10%”, the Executive Board member reports. He attributes the fact that this growth was not more pronounced to the poor weather over the summer on the one hand and to increased competition in the food retail trade owing to pandemic-related restaurant and bar closures on the other. The Fresh Juice Systems segment saw revenues fall compared with the equivalent period in the previous year. “However, we managed to considerably reduce pandemic-related revenue losses over the course of the year, especially those arising from the first quarter of 2021”, Oliver Schwegmann explains, attributing this in particular to an increase in revenues in the domestic markets of Germany and Austria, which have their own sales structures.

“Although our revenues are still lower compared with the first nine months of the previous year, we have managed to continually improve both our business volume and our profitability from quarter to quarter over the course of the year. As a result of this, at the end of the third quarter of 2021 we have significantly improved on the earnings we achieved in the previous year”, he says.

Outlook for the rest of the financial year

In view of its performance so far, the Group announced an adjustment of its annual forecast in its Report on its Preliminary Business Figures published on October 5, 2021. Specifically, the corporate group now expects to achieve a consolidated EBIT in the range of EUR 6.0 million to EUR 7.0 million (previously EUR 4.0 million to EUR 6.0 million) and a consolidated EBITDA in the range of EUR 15.0 million to EUR 16.0 million (previously EUR 13.0 million to EUR 15.0 million). Consolidated revenues of between EUR 145.0 million and EUR 150.0 million (previously EUR 152.0 million and EUR 158.0 million) are expected. “However, it remains to be seen how the further course of the coronavirus pandemic will impact our all-important year-end business”, concludes Oliver Schwegmann.